Electric-circuit-controlling apparatus for train-lighting and similar systems.



B. H. M. LANGLEY & E. W. PRICE. ELECTRIC omcm'r CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR TRAIN LIGHTING AND SIMILAR SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1911.

Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

haul, in the county of n f; H:

locked at any iii?- S L LTES J- ElTl/YARD 'MAIFIN LANGLEY AND ERICEST Vi ASSIGNDRS TO THE ELECTR E132 uter Ell, BIRMINGHAM, EIIGLAND.

IC 85 OED?! T all witOmmay concern Be it known that we, EDWARD HERBERT LANGLEY and. m EST l VAL'rER Pinon. both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at Cheston Road, Aston, Birming- -Varwick, England, have inventcd'certain new and useful In provements in or Relating to Electric-Cirouil' -Controflling Apparatus for TrainQL-ightin andfiimihir Systems. of which the followii'ig is a specification.

This invention relates to electric circuit controllinh apparatus for train lighting and is and has reference to systems in which two separate. lighting circuits are ea ch controlleiil by a switch, the two switches being of the kind that are so arranged and interconnected that when either switch is aetuateclit becomes automatically locked in new position and unlocks the other switch the lattcr is locked. According as one or other or'hoth the switches are actuoriohle lighting effects are obtained. l, niier ordinary conditions the switches are ectueteci eltZO--1llflgfl8lli02lllf, but provision is made for sometimes actuatio them. also by mechanical means, as for instance by i1 her transverselymovable with respect to the switches. Hitherto llOvGVH', the movements of such a bar for actuating the switches he ve not been simple as is desirable. The chief object of the present invention is to provide improved switcheppurzitus of this kind anti particularly to simplify the mechanical actuation of the switches.

According-to the present'iuvention the two switches so arrangeithat one is m rmaliy open and the other. normally closed anti means are PI'OVlClQLl whereby each switch when actuated sin -ly becomes locked in its new position; these means. compriselink mechanism attached to each si'vitoh plunger and having ii (lead-point n sitioiu and a-nintervening memberispro- .flil for alternate actuation by the link :uechunisms so that only one switch ean be.

one time. In order to actuate the switches mechanically when desired, the usual transverse bar is provided with two actuating members, such as rollers, whereby it mere single longitudinal movement or" the bar from one or other of two normal posi specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 24, 1911.

drawings in which 2-- :ileo shows meuns If End the u actuated,

Serial No. 640.219.

molly closed switch or normally open switch wl the bur from one normal other can both switches to no inuitu'neousl In order that the ssirl 2 clearly mulersioml 11ml reu eiiec the smut i ull v 'on may he carried into *i y L 1 n; non oe (lQaClll 71th reference lj lgl l fil reores =it' t" a'*rziuiin ticullj ii train lighting i u in the use of a '(lynuino and l sets of secondary bah teries, unrl shows in elere'ion two electronuig'netio switches: constructed and. operating in accordance with the invention for the control of two lighti circuits formingpart of the system. The lo Wet part oi" the m or actuating switches meclninicul v. l ig. l? a detached View of a rlctuil hereinafter re ed Fi 9 1S alletuchetl sectional e Lion, and F 3 is a plain elevation the mg means "for act the switches ineclniniciill,

ii. repreents the dynamo, B and B e the two sets of batteries. the positive poles of which are connected together by we of a: resis'" MK? if a (l are also commuted to the positive brush in she ii in so;

C and Q" are two series. of lamps.

D and E are to swit hes For controlling the twocircu' s of th lumps. The switch 1: cmnpriscs :1 solenoid winrlin core or plunger D. the puir of 111 and the bi'itl 3 piece (17. Similm'lv Switch E coinliises ii solent u'iurli I core or "plunger i i, 1.

bridge piece and e are shown sh-ion mounted in guides'd and 11- respectire in such :1 Way that while being (n mble of not lii'lfill bv their respective plun Y .1 u Cl'HiHlCll coi'inoction m i The means for lot comprise, shown in the illz'twllli mounted beneath the ,.ll1] ,l' i on It stationary pivot U with one end connected bv' a link 1) to the plunger end the other enii provided with 2l pin D uda iited to bear upon one arm 5i rocking ii'ieihhcr F common. to the two SWltCili Siniilui-lv locking means of the switch 1E comprises the bridge pieces in the (.011 l the L-sllaped piece E pivot E link 13*, and pin Ei In the case of each L-shaped piece and connecting link, there is what may be termed a dead-point the weight of the plunger-s, assisted if necessary by springs, tends to move the L-shaped pieces in one or other di rection away from the dead-point position, but whereas in one direction this movement can take place freely in the other direction all but a slight movement is checked; this check may be produced in any appropriate manner, for instance by suitably placed stops, such as F in Fig. l, or by so shaping the connecting links that projections,-such as E on them engage with the L-shaped pieces and prevent further motion as shown in F ig. 1 is fully raised,'the corresponding L-shaped piece and connecting link are moved to such a position that when the raising force on the When either plunger plunger is removed the latter remains in its raised position owing to the link mechanism having passed its dead-point position and being prevented from moving farther just described; in Fig. 1, the switch E is occupying this position. If the plunger D happened to be locked in its raised position at the time when the switch E was actuated,

the rising of the plunger E would have caused the rocking member F to become tilted to such an extent that the'L-shaped piece l) and connecting link D of the locked plunger'D would have been moved beyond their dead point position in the direction which'permits of a free descent of this lunger. Hence, as hereinbefore stated, the ocking of one plunger effects the unlocking of the other plunger, if locked. If both plungers are raised, both of the l shaped pieces D and E have the same tendency to tilt the rocking member F, with the result that this member assumes an intermediate position, and therefore neither of the L-shaped pieces and their connecting rangement.

links can pass beyond their dead-point in the directionwhichresults in the locking of the corresponding plunger. Hence when the raising force on bothplungers is simultaneously removed, these plungers both return to their normal position. It is to be observed that when both plungers are raised, the lock ing mechanism prevents their rising to the full extent.

In the case of electromagnetic actuation of the plungers, the master switch (not shown) that controls the energizing current for the solenoid windings of the two switches may be such as to cause a mere momentary energizing of either solenoid or of both solenoids, since a continued energizing of the solenoid is unnecessary owing to the above described mechanical locking a The means for actuating the switches of a coach mechanically, for instance during periods when the coach is detached from the rest of the-train, comprise a pair of auxiliary plunger-s G and H situated beneath the main plungers D and E respectively, and adapted to be thrust upward at the requisite intervals against the pins that connect the links D' 15*, to the main plungers. The transversely slidable bar J for actuating these auxiliary plungers is provided with two rollers G andH adapted for engagement with one or other or both of the auxiliary plungers. axesof the rollers'G and H is equal to the distance between the axes of the aforesaid auxiliary plungers G and H, and the'usu al springs control the sliding bar so that it normally assumes one or other of two idle positions in which one'or other roller is in the space between the plungers. Pins J J are fixed to the bar J for engagement with the end plates J of a slidable buffer J on which'the adjacent ends of the controlling springs bear. If the bar in Fig. 1 is thrust to the right, the pin J pushes the bufier J to the right so that immediately the bar is the buffer so that further movement of the bar toward the left produces a distortion of the springs again, with the result that whenthe bar is released the springs return it to the idle position shown in Fig. 2. The bar may be provided with a handle at one or each end and stopsare also provided to prevent the bar from being moved beyond certain limits. The bar cannot be moved to, the right more than to bring the roller H vertically below the auxiliary plunger G; and the bar cannot be moved to the left more than to bring the roller G vertically under the auxiliary plunger H. Hence a simple movement of the bar to the extreme right causes the auxiliary plungdr G to be raised by the roller H and the switch D to be opened (and the switch E unlocked and therefore opened also, if it was previously locked), the result being that both lighting circuits are broken; a simple movement .of the bar to the extreme left causes the auxil- The distance between the iary plunger H to be raised by the roller G? switch E open and the swam closed, the

result being that only one lighting circuit is closed. Since the locking mechanism precan: ns1ng a pair vents file mi in plungers their in. {1 1):): on sinmltnme the full exieni the an);

be of a: siighz dearly in Fig. under L em :(i wih and but :1 normally new 33 3- i 1 Uni: coninetweun 1m mi and the 1A actuntkm b piese in a inunuC-l' pieces. i

each piunger W ding Lsimped mar-ting zicl-pai iniliposit ii nwans 5. Switch zagpzz. a1 11 int of 1 i'inii mall) UiUSLJi sW ii, a mjrmziii open sh from the I. i-point pu- :1 pl ingr coiipemting wit? ezwi; iiuii t1 2 1 101 and i" s for mieactuate it. a bar trimmer-sew mm a with 4 "fig both Lsimm piecefi '1 their 1'erespect t the p iung'c =3, mans link? 10m uni the bar to actuateuize 0r tha 0i. 'iziie smile phmgers when the bar is moved Wdfll or the oihez' of two idle positimrs a pieces.

to actudw with plum "many from. either,- idie pus Idle pssfltwn ii ans fv i; 11- turning" the 51m? to one in! )1" the idle pus-Mons when n ver] in direction away from in 01 and, release&, means switch, Wh 11 actuated i and means for insuring becomes locked any zime.

5. Switch apparatus con'ipr Bully closed sw' ch moi-mail ape a l@$iii2n"fi 171131;??? cniiperiting with eimh their respective, fin point positions "at H sauna time.

111g mia'nbez' being it 1'33 21m? 1 bariiransverselv ma my two L- shamd pisses I01 r i v.0 iihe plungzezrsx rollers 'v 1 frae encis,0 se nieces. 1* at a fixed ctstzmce apar to bear against 6 e or the ears when 5110 bar YHOiIGG. 05511 32 of hm idle positions from the 0'51 v1? idle posiiQOiZifi piungers when it is Switiifh apparatus cumpiisi maiiyoseiii solenoid swihrh. mail 0124511 siflenoiri S'Wiffiii.u prising a pair of contmts, :1 mi? adenoid mi}, and z; plunger with but miconnececi "0 1" 1 tiom bis he i) 'E'HU'YQLi from either idle 0 in tmsal'd the in ciznbiniaiimi with an, i-Si'lfir m2 0 5-1181 5611a pna'iigiom springs f0: ziiicaily eted below each piungei, a link 9mm ing returning the bar id 011501 the iis each plunger with one end of CL' 'i' 1 idle positions i 1 1 moved tiwz'efi'om in a spomiing i..-SilL})d piece '11 2|, 1112mm? Thai direc-ion :2 Tel nther idle position.

provides a dead-p0infg pnsition. menus 1,1 preventing frag v:rn@wnwnt of each link 21115; L-shaped piece from tha dead paint position means for ins-iii in one directinn, and mes. is For enting wines 10:22:6 both L-shaped pieces and their motive '4'. Switch links fmm assuming dendqmirit posiiions at lmfmig either switch 7 iisw posiik I and aim? vniy one swii ch beat any (me time.

4 27:. 225115 wmpris'ing' n 7102"- maiiy cioaed sv. llt'ih a norm: iiy opn switch,

and mien. R when imiuziii i.

the same time, said HYQHHS b91212 interposed each switch cmnprisfiig a pair of contacts bqtwegen the. two L-shapec? mecei for 210i 2 iiil fi piece, :1 snienoid 00%? and :1 ph'inge-r amen L the ri e e11 of H1 Switch apparatus (rinsed soienoi I open 501mm? w mecca.

I coiipei a mmpns with but in 0mm i wnuemned $10 the wil an lUXi1- 19.1211 sole.- movable sans can-1m et i 1 by the bar to actuate one or the other of the auxiliary plungers when the bar is moved from one or theother of two idle positions in a direction away from the other idle position but to actuate both auxiliary plungers" vwhen it is moved from either idle position toward the other idle position, means for automatically returning the her to one or the other of its idle positions when moved therefrom in a direction away from the other idle position and released, means for bridge piece; in combination with a slightly resilientauxlliary plunger for cooperation with each solenoid plunger, a liar trans versely movable with respect to the plungers,

rollers mounted on thejoar at a fixed glis' tence' apsrt and in a position to bear against one or the other of thereuxiliary olun'gers when the bar is moved from one or the other of two idlepositions' in'a direction away from the other idle position, but to actuate both auxiliary .plnngers when it is moved from either idle osition toward the other idle position, springs for automatically returning the bar to one or the other of its idle positions when moved therefrom in we direction away from the other idle position and released, means for locking each solenoid plunger in its new position when actuated by the corresponding auxiliary plunger; and means for unlocking one solenoid plunger as the other is being locked and preventing both plungers from being locked if they are simultaneously actuated. I

In testimony whereof we aflix our signs-- tures in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD HERBERT MANN LANGLEY. ERNEST WALTER PRICE.

Witnesses: I

HENRY HERBERT OLIVER, JOSEPH WILLIAM Hnnnnnr. 

